Abstract: The invention provides a synthetic route from sarsasapogenin to timosaponin BII and related compounds. A diketone intermediate is provided, which can advantageously be used for in situ assembly of complex sugar moieties of the desired glycone end product. The diketone compound is then selectively reduced using a borohydride reducing agent to form the desired end product, certain of the end products and intermediates are novel compounds perse.

Abstract: A network traversal method is provided. A plurality of endpoints in a plurality of network address translators (NATs) is grouped into a plurality of groups, and an on-line server is deployed for managing information related to the groups and information related to connections that have traversed the NATs, wherein the endpoints in the same NAT are grouped into the same group. In addition, when one of the endpoints is about to establish a connection with another one of the endpoints, whether there is a peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints is determined. If there is the peer-to-peer direct connection between the groups corresponding to the two endpoints, the connection between the two endpoints is established by using the peer-to-peer direct connection. Thereby, the network traversal method can effectively reduce the time, cost, and complexity for traversing the NATs.

Abstract: A multi-layer data processing apparatus and method. The multi-layer data processing unit may classify received multi-layer data into lower layer data and higher layer data using lower layer information, and generate and output a traffic flow of the lower layer data or traffic flows of the lower layer data and the higher layer data with reference to a rule information table. In the rule information table, pieces of lower layer rule information may be linked to pieces of higher layer rule information.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high affinity recombinant humanized antibody fragment (scFv) specific for hepatitis B surface antigen having unique inter/intra chain bonding interaction because of 28 altered amino acid residues from the original mouse (5S) antibody and its chimeric Fab form, wherein fine tuning of the vernier zone residue makes it closer to the human sequence without any structural constraints.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three dimensional (3D) navigation system for contents guide and a method thereof. The contents guide navigation system includes a contents classification module to classify contents based on at least one tag defined in the contents, and a navigation module to provide a list of the classified contents via a 3D guide screen constituted by an x axis, a y axis, and a z axis. Here, the navigation module links the list of the classified contents to the x axis, the y axis, and the z axis, each of the x axis, the y axis and the z axis being linked on different standards.

Abstract: A system which allows healthcare providers to monitor hand hygiene compliance includes a data reader adapted to be worn by a healthcare provider. The system includes a portal trigger disposed at each door portal of a patient room which activates the reader to record an entrance event when the provider enters the patient room. The system includes a dispenser trigger disposed at each cleaning dispenser having cleanser in or at the entrance of each patient room which activates the reader to record a dispensing event when the provider causes the dispenser to dispense cleanser, the reader having a display which displays a number of dispensing events and a number of entrance events. A method which allows healthcare providers to monitor hand hygiene compliance. A system which allows a person to monitor hand hygiene compliance. A method for allowing a person to monitor hand hygiene compliance.

Abstract: In a system where satellite communication using multi-beams is performed for each group including a plurality of beams, a required data transmission rate of each beam is detected for each group, more traffic resources are allocated to a beam having a higher required data transmission rate than other beams based on the detection result, and data traffic transmitted to each beam in the group is adaptively controlled.

Abstract: A toxic material detection apparatus includes a sample collection portion including a sample inlet and a sample concentrator adapted to concentrate an environmental sample on a substrate. A sample distributing system transfers portions of the substrate to a color sensor and an ion mobility spectrometer for simultaneously analysis and toxin detection, particularly cholinesterase inhibitor detection. Optionally, a portion of the substrate may be directed to an archive for possible analysis at a later time. Reagents utilized include the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the reactants acetylthiocholine iodide (ATCI) and 5,5?-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTB). A data management unit provides for near-real-time analysis of the samples in under 5 minutes. Simultaneous “hits” by both analysis methods indicate the presence of a cholinesterase inhibitor.

Abstract: The present invention fabricates a hydrophobic and oleophobic polymer fabric through two stages of modification using atmospheric plasmas. The modified fabric has a rough surface and a fluorocarbon functional group having the lowest surface free energy. The fabric has a grafted fluorocarbon monomer layer to enhance the graft efficiency of the fluorocarbon functional groups and its wash fastness. The atmospheric plasmas can be mass produced and less expensively. Hence, the present invention can rapidly modify surfaces of polymeric materials with low cost and good environment protection.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for deciphering a password. The password deciphering apparatus includes a host control unit and at least two graphic processing units. The host control unit generates candidate passwords for detection of a password of a ciphered document file, and allocates the generated candidate passwords to at least two graphic processing units in a non-overlapping manner. The graphic processing units output password detection information when detecting the password of the document file by searching the allocated candidate passwords. Herein, upon receiving the password detection information from one of the graphic processing units, the host control unit uses the password detection information to detect the password.

Abstract: An composite material is disclosed, which includes carbon fibrous structures which are capable of being included in a relatively large amount in the composite material, and which are capable of improving the physical properties, such as electric, mechanical, or thermal properties. The carbon fibrous structure comprises (a) carbon fibrous structures each of which comprises a three dimensional network of carbon fibers, each of the carbon fibers having an outside diameter of 15-100 nm, wherein the carbon fibrous structure further comprises a granular part, at which the carbon fibers are bound in a state that the carbon, fibers are extended outwardly therefrom, and wherein the granular part is produced in a growth process of the carbon fibers, and (b) an material other than the carbon fibrous structures, wherein the amount of carbon fibrous structures added is more than 30% and not more than 100% by weight of the total weight of the composite.

Abstract: The invention provides isolated N-methyl-D-aspartate type 3B (NR3B) polypeptides, functional fragments and peptides, encoding nucleic acid molecules and polynucleotides, and specific antibodies. Also provided are excitatory glycine receptors, containing either NR3B or NR3A polypeptides. Further provided are methods for detecting excitatory glycine receptor ligands, agonists and antagonists. The invention also provides related diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a Panax ginseng polysaccharide extract, which is useful for liver protection or for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases, and a method for preparing the same. Further, the present invention relates to a composition for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases, comprising the Panax ginseng polysaccharide extract as an active ingredient, and a food composition comprising the same.

Abstract: An electrochromic device includes a first electrode, a second electrode disposed opposite the first electrode, a porous electrochromic layer disposed on the first electrode or the second electrode, and an electrolyte disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The porous electrochromic layer includes different sized nanoparticle clusters, and each nanoparticle cluster includes a plurality of nanoparticles and an electrochromic material.

Abstract: An electrochemical device having a proton exchange membrane disposed between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode, an anode plate adjacent the anode electrode and forming at least one anode flow channel, and a cathode plate adjacent the cathode electrode and forming at least one cathode flow channel, in which a bio-oil is introduced into the at least one anode flow channel, and a carbohydrate is introduced into the at least one cathode flow channel.

Abstract: Semiconductor photovoltaic cells have surfaces that are textured for processing and photovoltaic reasons. The absorbing regions may have parallel grooves that reduce loss of solar energy that would otherwise be lost by reflection. One form of texturing has parallel grooves and ridges. The cell also includes regions of metallization for collecting the generated electrical carriers and conducting them away, which may be channels. The topography is considered during production, using a process that takes advantage of the topography to govern what locations upon will receive a specific processing, and which locations will not receive such a processing. Liquids are treated directly into zones of the cell. They migrate throughout a zone and act upon the locations contacted. They do not migrate to other zones, due to impediments to fluid flow that are features of the surface texture, such as edges, walls and ridges.

Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling synchronizing downmix signals and MPEG surround side information signals by controlling a delay according to the kind of downmix audio signals in an MPEG surround decoder. When multi-channel audio signals are restored using an HE-AAC decoder and a low-power MPEG surround decoder and complex QMF signals outputted from the HE-AAC decoder are used as downmix signals, a delay unit compensates for a delay caused in a real-to-complex converter. Anther delay unit delays spatial parameters to compensate for a delay caused in QMF and Nyquist banks when time-domain downmix signals are used. Also, when multi-channel audio signals are restored using an HE-AAC decoder and a high-quality MPEG surround decoder and complex QMF signals outputted from the HE-AAC decoder are used as downmix signals, a delay unit compensates for a delay caused in a real-to-complex converter.

Abstract: A call setup method is provided for a MVPN which includes at least one access point apparatus, at least one database, and a plurality of users. The database records a private extension number, a user phone number, and a user identity module of each user and a link address of the corresponding access point apparatus. The access point apparatus corresponding to a MO user receives a call setup request message for setting up a call with a MT user from the MO user. The access point apparatus corresponding to the MO user determines whether the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid according to the database. If the link address of the access point apparatus corresponding to the MT user is valid, the MO user and the MT user set up the call through the access point apparatuses corresponding to the link addresses.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for treating tumours, such as solid tumours, in a host. The methods may involve infecting the tumour with an amount of one or more strains of oncolytic virus. The virus will generally be selected to be effective to cause a lytic infection of tumour cells within the tumour. In various embodiments, the host neutrophil response to the lytic infection may be modulated, so that during the course of the lytic infection, the host has an initial neutrophil response and a secondary neutrophil response, these two responses being different in some material respect. For example, the secondary neutrophil response may mediate a greater degree of apoptotic killing of tumour cells than does the initial neutrophil response.

Abstract: A DCS control module for a transformer in nuclear power engineering, comprises: an input command processing logic unit (1), a malfunction processing logic unit (2), a state processing logic unit (3), an output command generating logic unit (4) and a 6.6 kV switchgear of the transformer. The present invention utilizes the distribution control system (DCS) integral with the power units to realize the control of 6.6 kV transformer switch, the sharing of the operator station with the power unit control system, and the overall monitoring, and the operation reliability of the power units is improved.